a few reactions to the passing of chavez

Published on Wednesday, March 6, 2013 by Common Dreams

'More Alive Than Ever': World Reacts to Loss of Venezuela's Hugo Chávez

- Common Dreams staff

Following the death of Hugo Chávez Frías on Tuesday, world leaders and supporters of the Venezuelan leftist leader were sharing their condolences and commenting on the legacy left on his country, Latin America, and the world.

The late Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez cheers while holding up a parrot wearing one of his trademark red berets, in Caracas on 13 October 2002. (Photograph: Kimberly White/Reuters)The following is just a sample of some of those reactions.

Bolivian President Evo Morales made a tearful televised address in which hestated:

It hurts, but we must stand united in this process of liberation, not only of Venezuela but of the whole region... Chavez is now more alive than ever.

Chavez will continue to be an inspiration for all peoples who fight for their liberation [...] Chavez will always be present in all the regions of the world and all social sectors. Hugo Chavez will always be with us, accompanying us.

Mark Weisbrot, Center for Economic & Policy Research, who has long studied and frequently reported on Chavez's Venezuela, said:

Chávez survived a military coup backed by Washington and oil strikes that crippled the economy but once he got control of the oil industry, his government reduced poverty by half and extreme poverty by 70 percent. Millions of people also got access to health care for the first time, and access to education also increased sharply, with college enrollment doubling and free tuition for many. Eligibility for public pensions tripled. He kept his campaign promise to share the country’s oil wealth with Venezuela’s majority, and that will be part of his legacy.

So, too will be the second independence of Latin America, and especially South America, which is now more independent of the United States than Europe is. Of course this would not have happened without Chávez’s close friends and allies: Lula in Brazil, the Kirchners in Argentina, Evo Morales in Bolivia, Rafael Correa in Ecuador, and others. But Chávez was the first of the democratically-elected left presidents in the past 15 years, and he played a very important role; look to what these colleagues will say of him and you will find it to be much more important than most of the other obituaries, anti-obituaries, and commentaries

Former US President Jimmy Carter released a statement which read in part:

President Chávez will be remembered for his bold assertion of autonomy and independence for Latin American governments and for his formidable communication skills and personal connection with supporters in his country and abroad to whom he gave hope and empowerment. During his 14-year tenure, Chávez joined other leaders in Latin America and the Caribbean to create new forms of integration. Venezuelan poverty rates were cut in half, and millions received identification documents for the first time allowing them to participate more effectively in their country's economic and political life.

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